Summer 26: Week 6

 August 9-10

I had VERY few picks from Monmouth this weekend - half because the quality of the racing has fallen off so much, and half because of how abbreviated the programs have become.  The previously 8-race, shortened Friday program now only has six events and the weekend programs max out at eight races.  And in an amusing turn of events, when I went to make my first bet on Saturday I discovered that after having opted to NOT play Monmouth on Sunday - because of the Ellis stakes events on their program which I WAS playing - I discovered I had not handicapped the Saturday Jersey Shore card, but had inadvertently handicapped the Sunday card!  So Friday, surprisingly I actually had four plays from the six races....two WINS and two seconds.  And on Sunday I had just two selections - another WIN and another second.  So pretty good on the Jersey Shore.  But the best part was the many stakes wins over the two days.  I especially enjoyed watching 2025 Horse of the Year and my winning selection in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty romp in the $750K Grade 1 Whitney!

Summer 26: Week 5

 

Saturday August 1:  Happy Birthday To ME

I loved Arlington International Racecourse.  I visited there three times and twice went to the Arlington Million, the signature day at the beautiful facility.  But since Churchill Downs, Inc. sold it for it's real estate value the Million Day races have been held at a couple of different venues, but seems to have settled at Colonial Downs.

Arlington Million Days

Jaxson's Ice Cream Celebration

Birthday Wishes

By the time the weekend was over I had nearly 100 birthday wishes from friends and family but I have to say what made me the happiest was that I heard from every single one of the people who mean the most to me.

Chloe - Allison - Mandy - Ekatirini - Jen - Jillian

Lauren - Melissa - Michelle - Shasha - Shelly - Sophia - Teri

The ChatGPT of Kimmy & Tati celebrating my birthday at the condo

Summer 2026 - Week 4

 Coaching Club Of America Weekend

The poor quality of racing at Monmouth this summer and lack of horses - only SIX races on Friday - had me have only a single selection - ran 2nd - on Friday.  On Saturday I scored with seven picks including the featured Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks on the Jersey Shore and both graded features at Saratoga.

Was a good week for social media/online friends as I heard from my three favorite news girls and had a "long" text chat with out gal-pal Michelle who's going to visit us at the condo later next month.

Summer 2026 - Week 3

 Haskell Weekend
July 16-21 At The Condo

I wish that it had worked differently and my adorable wife Kimberly D had been able to come to Orlando for the extended weekend at our stay-cation condo, but she was up in the air about doctor appointments and visits.  Drove up her, at my wife's insistence I might add, on Thursday morning.  Our son Brad came and we had a long lunch together.  Friday I went to his hockey game - he was the star and they won in a shootout.  Brought the grandson back for the weekend.  Ended by spending a good part of Monday with our adorable realtor Sophia before heading home.  The racing highlights were from the signature day at Monmouth, Haskell Day.  For the day Saturday I won 47% of the picks and with the promotional money I got back I finished in the black.  Made Sunday a winning day when I added their stakes event, the Wicker Stakes to the two picks from the Jersey Shore.

Was fun to hear back from my gal-pal Karli Barnett who's now based at an Atlanta news station.  We still keep in touch and she follows our trips.